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Choosing the right credit card is a tricky proposition. There’s no shortage of alternatives out there, with many companies offering dozens of options from which you can choose. Today I want to focus on one such issuer to answer a simple question: How do you choose the best American Express card for your wallet?

How We Chose the Cards

Before getting into the specific products, let’s start with the overall approach for this analysis. I started by selecting what I believe to be the best personal American Express credit cards on the market today. Then, I divided those cards up into three different categories:

Those that earn transferable points

Those that earn points or miles in a specific program

Those that earn a fixed return

Then, within each category, I broke down the individual perks of each card using the following criteria:

Welcome bonus

Earning rate(s)

Benefits

Annual fee

Finally I tried to provide some context around each card and to whom it might appeal based on a variety of factors, including spending habits, travel patterns and desired rewards. As always, you likely have your own criteria for making these decisions, so feel free to use this analysis as a starting point to come to your own conclusions!

In This Post

Remember too that American Express has tightened up its welcome bonus policies, so if you have had any of these products before, you likely aren’t eligible to earn the bonus again. However, all of them should be eligible for bonuses and discounts through Amex Offers, though the exact merchants and offers you’ll get will vary across cards.

Transferable Points

Every traveler should have a card that earns transferable points to shield yourself from devaluations and give you flexibility when it comes time to redeem, and American Express’ transferable currency is Membership Rewards points. The program partners with 18 different airlines including British Airways, Delta and Singapore.

Analysis: For a long time, the Amex Platinum was the premium travel rewards card, though this segment is now quite competitive. Nevertheless, the card does offer a very solid value proposition that even a semi-frequent traveler should appreciate. The annual credits for incidental fees on airlines and for Uber trips effectively reduce the annual fee to $150, and the earning rates on tickets booked directly with an airline make it an ideal card for airfare purchases, especially given the value of Membership Rewards points (2 cents apiece based on TPG’s most recent valuations). The lounge access on the card is quite widespread and continues to grow, with a new Centurion Lounge in Hong Kong and plans for the largest one yet in New York’s JFK Airport plus a new location in Denver. The card also gets you status with two hotel programs: Hilton and Marriott. These perks are compelling by themselves, so if you’re then targeted for a 100,000-point bonus through the CardMatch tool, I’d say applying is a no-brainer.

Bonus: 35,000 Membership Rewards points after you use your new card to make $2,000 in purchases in your first three months. However, 50,000-point offers may be available through referral links (offer subject to change anytime).

Earning rate(s): 4 points per dollar spent at US restaurants and at US supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year at supermarkets; then 1x), 3 points per dollar on flights purchased directly with the airline or at amextravel.com, and 1 point per dollar everywhere else.

Benefits: This was previously the Premier Rewards Gold Card, but it received a huge update in 2018 that drastically improved its bonus categories and added a focus on dining and related perks. You get up to $120 in annual credits toward dining each year, divided into up to $10 credits each month at participating retailers including Grubhub and Ruth’s Chris Steak House. The card also offers up to a $100 annual airline fee credit, and 2x points and up to a $100 hotel credit for eligible Hotel Collection bookings.

Analysis: If the Amex Platinum’s annual fee is too rich for your blood, the Amex Gold Card could be a terrific consolation prize. This is especially true if you frequently eat out or order in, or shop at the supermarket (and pretty much everyone falls into one of these categories). The 4x earning rate at US restaurants equals a stellar 8% return on your spending according to TPG valuations, and factoring in the $100 airline fee credit and up to $120 in annual dining credits, this card effectively costs just $30 per year.

Best for Everyday Spending: The Amex EveryDay Preferred Credit Card from American Express

The two Amex EveryDay cards provide solid bonuses when you make a large number of purchases thanks to the bonuses they offer.

Bonus: 15,000 Membership Rewards points after you use your new card to make $1,000 in purchases within the first three months.

Earning rate(s): 3 points per dollar spent at US supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year); 2 points per dollar spent at US gas stations; and 1 point per dollar spent everywhere else. If you make 30 or more purchases in a billing period, you’ll earn 50% more points on those purchases.

Benefits: N/A

Annual fee: $95

Analysis: This is another card that gets you into the Membership Rewards program without breaking the bank with a high annual fee. It’s also great if you don’t travel that frequently, as you don’t get the significant perks of the Amex Platinum or Amex Gold but still have some solid category bonuses for everyday spending. If you do use it as your primary card, you should definitely make a point of hitting 30 transactions a month to earn the 50% bonus, though be sure you know the timeline for how American Express awards these points.

Best for Everyday Spending With No Annual Fee: The Amex EveryDay Credit Card from American Express

Bonus: 10,000 Membership Rewards points after you use your new card to make $1,000 in purchases within the first three months, though you could be targeted for an elevated 15,000-point offer through CardMatch.

Earning rate(s): 2 points per dollar spent at US supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year); then 1 point dollar after that and 1 point per dollar everywhere else.

Benefits: N/A

Annual fee: $0

Analysis: If you’re looking for a card without an annual fee that still allows you to participate in the Membership Rewards program, this flavor of Amex EveryDay is a terrific option. I love that it still gives you a category bonus at supermarkets, since many fee-free cards offer a flat earning rate across all merchants. It may take a while to get to a valuable redemption like Lufthansa first class, but it’s a good way to start!

The information for the Amex EveryDay Credit Card and the Amex EveryDay Preferred Credit Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Hotel/Airline Points

In addition to cards that earn Membership Rewards points, American Express issues several credit cards that are specific for a particular airline or hotel chain. The big advantage with these cards is that they often carry benefits with the cobranded partner, which is great. However, you’re locked into earning points or miles in that specific program, leaving you at the mercy of the airline or hotel chain when it comes to devaluations that can wipe significant value from your accounts.

The St. Regis Punta Mita is just one luxurious hotel where you can redeem points.

Bonus: 75,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy points after you use your new Card to make $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months.

Earning rate(s): 6 points per dollar at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels; 3 points per dollar at US restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines; 2 points per dollar on everything else.

Benefits: This premium card offers up to a $300 Marriott Bonvoy statement credit each year of card membership, and this applies to room rates as well as on-property purchases like meals and spa treatments. Card holders also get a free night award each year after their card member anniversary, for properties that cost up to 50,000 points per night, plus complimentary Marriott Gold status.

Analysis: You don’t need to be a hard-core Marriott loyalist to get some great value from this card. Between the $300 statement credit that can be used toward hotel stays, the annual 50,000-point free night award and complimentary Gold elite status, it can be relatively easy to justify this card’s premium annual fee.

Benefits: The card carries a host of valuable perks, including an annual $250 airline fee credit (which works the same as the Amex Platinum’s credit) and an annual up to $250 credit valid at select Hilton resorts. The card also grants you automatic Diamond status and includes a weekend night certificate upon account approval and each year when you renew the card. You can also earn another weekend night certificate by spending $60,000 on the card in a calendar year. Finally, you’ll enjoy complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, allowing you and two guests to visit over 1,000 lounges around the world when traveling.

Analysis: This addition to the premium travel rewards credit card category launched in January 2018, and it’s the only hotel cobranded card that grants you automatic top-tier status with a hotel loyalty program. If you can max out the airline fee credit, your effective annual fee drops to $200, and the value of the weekend night certificate should (by itself) nearly cover the rest. They you have the terrific earning rates at Hilton properties, a return of 8.4% based on TPG’s most recent valuations plus Priority Pass membership. Even if you’re just a semi-regular guest at Hilton’s various brands, it’s fairly easy to get outsized value from the card.

Bonus: 125,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $2,000 or more in purchases with your new card within the first 3 months of card membership.

Earning rate(s): 12 points per dollar spent at Hilton properties; 6 points per dollar spent at US restaurants, US supermarkets and US gas stations; and 3 points per dollar spent everywhere else

Benefits: You’ll enjoy complimentary Gold status with the card and the ability to upgrade to Diamond status by spending $40,000 in eligible purchases in a calendar year. The card also awards a weekend night certificate when you spend $15,000 on the card in a calendar year and grants you Priority Pass Select membership (though only gives you 10 complimentary visits; each additional one is $27).

Analysis: If you can’t quite justify the high fee on the Hilton Amex Aspire, the Ascend card is still a great option for those who visit Hilton properties a few (or several) times a year. Gold status with the program is among the most valuable mid-tier hotel statuses out there, and the weekend night certificate can get a few hundred dollars of value, especially if you redeem it at an aspirational location. For an infrequent traveler, the 10 free visits to Priority Pass lounges may be sufficient, and you’re still getting a very solid return of 7.2% on your Hilton stays plus 3.6% back on your dining, grocery and gas purchases.

The Delta Gold Amex provides priority boarding in addition to a number of other perks when flying on Delta.

Bonus: 30,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months and a $50 statement credit after you make a Delta purchase with your new Card within your first 3 months.

Analysis: This card is a terrific option for those of you in Delta hubs (or if you regularly fly to or through a Delta hub). The free checked bag benefit will save you $50 on a round-trip flight, and priority boarding can help ensure that you snag space in the overhead bin. Even though Delta has significantly devalued its program over the last few years, there are still some solid redemptions using SkyMiles.

In addition to the Gold Delta SkyMiles Card, you could also consider the Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express or the Delta Reserve® Credit Card from American Express. In addition to welcome bonus and inflight benefits, these cards also give you the opportunity to earn Medallion® Qualification Miles and provide several other benefits. For complete information, check out Choosing the Right Delta American Express Card.

Fixed Value

The third (and final) category is fixed-value cards. These products offer either cash back or a currency that can only be redeemed for a set amount. Even though they don’t offer opportunities to maximize your rewards, they do offer a consistent return and simple earning and redemption structures. Here’s an overview of some American Express cards that fit into this category.

Bonus: Earn $250 back after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months. You will receive the $250 back in the form of a statement credit.

Earning rate(s): 6% cash back at US supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year), then 1% thereafter; 3% cash back at US gas stations, 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% Cash Back on transit and 1% back everywhere else. Terms apply.

Analysis: This card may be a good option for those of you who are looking to just put cash back into your wallet. A 6% bonus category is among the highest you’ll find with cash-back cards, though I wish the bonus extended to merchants other than supermarkets. Nevertheless, if you’re a big grocery shopper, getting a 6% return is solid.

Analysis: This card carries no annual fee but offers a lower bonus ($150) and lower bonus categories (3% and 2% instead of 6% and 3%) than the Preferred. In order to make the Preferred Card worth the $95 annual fee, you’d need to spend the following in the first year:

At least $1,500 at US supermarkets

At least $4,500 at US gas stations and US department store purchases

Some combination of the two that would earn you $45 extra cash back

In subsequent years, those amounts jump to $3,166.67 for groceries and $9,500 for gas/department store purchases, so be sure to crunch the numbers and make sure that your spending patterns justify incurring the annual fee.

Here is a Comparison for the top Amex cards to consider:

Card

Bonus

Annual Fee

The Platinum Card from American Express

60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $5,000 in first three months. Terms apply.

$550

American Express Gold Card

35,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $2,000 in first three months. Terms apply.

$250

The Amex EveryDay Preferred Credit Card from American Express

15,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $1,000 in first three months. Terms apply.

$95

The Amex EveryDay Credit Card from American Express

10,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $1,000 in first three months. Terms apply.

$0

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card

75,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy points after you use your new Card to make $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months.

$450

Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express

150,000 Hilton Honors points after you spend $4,000 in first three months. Terms apply.

$450

Hilton Honors Ascend Card from American Express

125,000 Htilon Honors points after you spend $2,000 in first three months. Terms apply.

$95

Gold Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express

30,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months and a $50 statement credit after you make a Delta purchase with your new Card within your first 3 months. Terms apply.

$95 (waived first year)

Blue Cash Preferred Credit Card from American Express

$250 statement credit after you spend $1,000 in first three months. Terms apply.

$95

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

$150 statement credit after you spend $1,000 in first three months. Terms apply.

$0

As you can see, American Express has a plethora of available credit cards that offer numerous benefits along with varied earning and redemption options. My personal recommendation is The Platinum Card from American Express thanks to the lucrative welcome bonus and incredible collection of perks. However, you should start the decision-making process by figuring out what type of rewards you want to earn and benefits you want to enjoy and then consider each individual product to see which one carries the perks and points that’ll work best with your individual situation. In Review:These are the Best American Express Cards for 2019:

Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.

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The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Please view our advertising policy page for more information.

Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Please view our advertising policy page for more information.

Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.